AFL round 24: Brisbane Lions defeat Essendon to clinch home final
Brisbane Lions will have to take the long road in this year’s AFL finals — but their quest for glory will start at the Gabba after sealing a home elimination final despite an unconvincing win over Essendon.
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Brisbane’s mid-season revival is complete after seeing off a woeful Essendon to lock in fifth spot and a home elimination final.
But the Lions’ pre-finals form remains a concern after an error-laden showing against the Bombers on Saturday night.
The 20-point margin belied the scrappy nature of Brisbane’s victory, which was never really in doubt if only because the opposition was much, much worse.
Essendon’s fall from grace will be picked apart in the days and weeks to come but more urgent is the matter of Brisbane’s goal kicking, which remains a major wrinkle that must be solved before a return to the Gabba in a fortnight’s time.
Josh Dunkley, Logan Morris and man-of-the-moment Joe Daniher were among the more egregious set shot misses that ultimately mattered little to the outcome.
Lach it in when Neale sets up ✅#AFLLionsDonspic.twitter.com/UvU2capjUe
— AFL (@AFL) August 24, 2024
But it did make for some nervous moments in the final quarter, when the Bombers booted five unanswered goals to cut back the 46-point margin at the final change – with help from some dubious umpiring decisions that had the Gabba crowd baying for blood.
When Eric Hipwood marked directly in front 35m out midway through the third quarter, a murmur rippled through the fans behind the goals that morphed into a collective sigh of relief when he successfully split the middle.
The Lions will host one of Carlton, Fremantle or the Western Bulldogs in two weeks’ time – likely on a Friday night – and have to turn up with a much sharper game to secure safe passage into the second week of September.
If the forward 50 profligacy can be solved then the Lions are a genuine premiership chance, because the rest of the game looks in good order.
The beleaguered backline kept Essendon to just five goals at three-quarter time before the Bombers eventually turned up to play in the final quarter of Dyson Heppell’s career.
With Jack Payne and Brandon Starcevich due back in time for the first final, the Lions should roll into September with their strongest back six in two or three months.
Brisbane’s traditional territory and clearance dominance returned with Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley all filling their boots.
Charlie Cameron kicked three goals for just the third time this season in what was his best game for three months, while partner in crime Kai Lohmann continued his strong form with a hat-trick of his own.
There were few – perhaps two – highlights for the Bombers.
Spare a thought for Zach Merrett.
The Bombers skipper must have felt like a man on an island at the Gabba.
Just minutes into the match it was Merrett who harassed Neale and forced the Lions’ superstar to kick backwards before pushing again to pressure the exit kick into the corridor.
All the while his teammates stood with hands on hips, happy to watch their skipper wage a one-man war.
That passage of play summed up the night – and perhaps the season – for the Bombers, who lost eight of their final 11 games to plummet out of finals contention.
His All-Australian calibre campaign will again end without a September appearance. After signing off a brilliant year with 36 disposals, six tackles and a goal, he deserved more.
As did Heppell who, a week after he was sensationally snubbed for a home ground send-off produced a season-high 34 disposals to bow out in fitting fashion.
In his 253rd and final game, Heppell was among the Bombers’ best. Hindsight probably suggests he deserved to be in the side a week earlier.
But he can bow out with his head held high after a glowing career that deserved more than it got.
Heppell shared a touching post-siren moment with Daniher, who earlier in the week spoke warmly of the opportunity to share his 200-game milestone with his former teammate.
Originally published as AFL round 24: Brisbane Lions defeat Essendon to clinch home final
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